What Moves Us

What Moves Us: Signapse

Liam speaks to Ben Saunders of Signapse about the use of information in sign language using AI at some National Rail stations. We discuss how the photo-realistic avatars convey key details of audible announcements, how to sign unusual stations, how passengers have interacted with the technology, whether they can truly replicate audible announcements, & what's next!

signapse.ai

What Moves Us: Mobility in Rural Areas, Innovation Funding

Johannah & Liam chat on whether future mobility has made it into rural areas, plus we introduce our new thought piece on funding innovation which looks at the different measures of success between the public & private approach to innovation project funding - is there an opportunity to change the approach, why wait for structural changes?

Download the report at railinnovationgroup.com

 

What Moves Us: GoodMaps

In this episode Liam speaks with Neil Barnfather MBE, Chief Commercial Officer of GoodMaps. They discuss the application of the wayfinding technology in the GB rail context, realising the benefits of enabling self-led journeys through railway station and other interior environments using only their mobile devices.

 

Links: https://www.goodmaps.com/

Network Rail project vids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Z0dtgIC1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ouRJhF9OHk

 

What Moves Us Bonus: Interview with Mike Butler, Nomad Digital

This bonus episode provides the extract of the interview we recently had with Nomad Digital's Mike Butler to discuss how they are working to innovate through building on existing platforms, and their advice for smaller companies - don't be afraid to collaborate! 

nomad-digital.com

What Moves Us: New PM & New Policies

In this episode Liam, Johannah & Deb get together to discuss the new, new government. What do we hope for in upcoming policy announcements and how do we hope the true value of investment will help to spread opportunities around the country. Plus, we have an interview with our member Nomad Digital's Mike Butler do hear how they are working to innovate through building on existing platforms, and their advice for smaller companies - don't be afraid to collaborate!

What Moves Us: Framing Your Benefits

Johannah & Liam discuss the topic of the most recent Rail Innovation Group Meet Up held to discuss the Network Rail R&D Benefits Framework. They cover the implication of the decision to delay the transition to Great British Railways (GBR) and how the continued uncertainty is affecting small suppliers.

What Moves Us - Our Review of InnoTrans 2022

In this episode Johannah, Deb & Liam discuss this year's InnoTrans in Berlin. At this biannual trade fair bringing the global rail industry together we look back at our impressions of how a general mood of uncertainty was influencing companies' and governments' investment plans, as well as their journey towards Net Zero.

 

We had a lot of useful conversations with our members as well as the wider community, making new friends along the way. Our top requests for next time: more diversity, more innovation, & more drinking water!

What Moves Us - Our Work in 2022

In this podcast Liam, Johannah & Deb get together to discuss our plans for a study into innovation funding, how apprentices can support diversity within larger companies, as well as an exciting update on our Parcels as Passengers workstream! 

What Moves Us: Supporting Decision Making with Amygda

In this episode Johannah & Liam were joined by Faizan Patankar of (relatively) new rail industry entrant, Amygda, to hear about how the company has found their entry into the rail sector, having previously worked in aviation. We discussed the how the company had to 'learn the language of rail' to engage with partners and a challenger to the way rail goes about maintenance planning!

What Moves Us: 2021, The Year of Decisions?

In this episode Johannah, Liam & Deb Carson review the implications of the multiple infrastructure announcements made during 2021. Discussing the knock-on effects to the image of rail in the eyes of new suppliers, they consider whether rail will be an attractive market to SMEs who are now more remote from the proposed HS2 network & not part of the Union Connectivity links. Plus, will the decisions of 2021 help deliver our climate change commitments?